Google Book Search

What it is: Google Book Search is a partnership project between Google and major libraries such as Harvard University Library, Stanford University Library, the New York Public Library, Princeton University Library, and Oxford University Library, as well as some commercial publishers. It allows you to search the content of hundreds of thousands of books and view the full text of books that are out of copyright and in the "public domain," and portions of text from books that are still copyrighted. If a book publisher is directly involved, the publisher determines which portions (table of contents, index, sample chapters) are included and how much can be viewed.

How it works: Keyword searching generates a title list of "All Books," "Limited View," or "Full View." "Limited View" allows you to see a few full pages from the book as a preview. "Full View," on the other hand, allows you to page through the entire book from start to finish. If the book is in the public domain, you will be able to download, save, and print the entire thing. For details, go to "About Google Book Search."

Search results: Results are displayed in relevance order. A search on "insurance regulation," for example, would generate a list of books on the topic with basic bibliographic information like title, author, publication date, length, and subject. For every book, you’ll see links directing you to bookstores where you can buy the book and libraries where you can borrow it.

Try Google Book Search now. You will be surprised to learn what treasures you can find free of charge.

Yan Hong